Electric heater



March 31. 1925.

L. SIMMONS ELECTRIC HEATER Filed July 15. 1924 '7 ShetS -She et l March31. 1925. 1,531,520

L. SIMMONS ELECTRIC HEATER Filed July '15, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 March31. 1925.

'7 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwuento'o March 31. 1925.

L. SIMMONS ELECTRIC HEATER '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1924gjwuwnto'a 61cm neg March 31 1925. 1,531,520

L. SIMMONS ELECTRIC HEATER Filed July 15, 1924 7 SheetsSheet 6 Mach31.1925.

L. SIMMONS v ELECTRIC HEATER Filed July 15, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet v W MWPatented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRIC HEATER.

Application filed July 15, 1924. Serial No. 726,103.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LE0 SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of lVashington, District of Columbia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to ElectricHeaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention involves improvements in and relating to electricheaters; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art in the light of the followingexplanations of the accompanying drawings illustra-ting what I nowbelieve to be the preferred mechanical expressions or embodiments of theinvention from among other forms, constructions, and combinations withinthe spirit and scope thereof.

An object of the invention is to'provide certain improvements incombinations and constructions with the ends in view of providing means,embodying an electric resistance heating unit, that can be eflicientlyand economically operatedto raise the temperature within a room orrooms, or other enclosure, by forced air circulation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cabinet of anornamental character embodying such electric heating and air circulatingmeans, enclosed within and carried and protected by an enclosure usefulas an article of furniture.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certainnovel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements, asmore fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming av part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the heater of the cabinet, said heaterbeing partially broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of said heater.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 33, Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4, Fig.

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal longitudinal section of .the ceramictunnel or housing showing the heating or throat ring in plan partiallybroken away.

Fig. 6 shows the heater in rear end elevation.

Fig. 7 is a vertical detail section of the blower support.

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 8-8, Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows the cabinet heater in longitudinal vertical section.

Fig. 10 shows said cabinet heater in vertical cross section.

Fig. 11 is a rear end, and

Fig. 12 is a front end elevation of the cabinet heater.

Figs. 13 and 14 are opposite side elevations of the cabinet heater.

The heater embodies a horizontally disposed air tunnel formed by an openend longitudinally hollow somewhat elongated approximately-cylindricalone-piece housing or pipe length l, composed of vitrified earthenware orother ceramic material, although I do not wish to so limit all featuresof my invention. In the particular example shown, the tunnel is ofreduced diameter intermediate its end portions, thereby forming annularforwardly facing shoulder 1*, although the end portions are, internallycylindrical, nevertheless I do not wish to so limitmy invention.

In the drawings, the tunnel is shown with exterior annular end beads orrims 1", that serve as stops for exterior metal bands 2, approximatelysurrounding the opposite end portions of the tunnel, and below thetunnel having a pair of depending ends that form the supporting feet orbase 2 of the heater. The opposin depending ends of each band 2 areconnected by a transverse connecting bolt 2 by which the band can becontracted and tightened on the tunnel and the ends braced and stilienedto form supporting feet or a base.

W'ithin the front end portion of the tunnel, I provide'a hollow annulusthat carries and encloses an electric resistance heating unit, and formsa throat ring and an annular heating chamber, surrounding a. centrallongitudinal bore or air passage.

I also provide an air blower within the tunnel to cooperate, in apeculiar manner, with the throat ring and the heating means, and causecirculation of the air of the room or enclosure, in which the heater islocated, through the tunnel and therefrom throughout such room orenclosure.

The throat ring forms a hollow metal annulus having a centrallongitudinal openend bore alined with the longitudinal axis of thetunnel or with the axis of rotation of the blower. The rear portion ofthis bore is cylindrical and is surrounded by a cylindrical wall 3 ofthe ring, from which the bore enlarges or flares forwardly and issurrounded by the flaring or conical wall 4 of the throat ring. 7

The ring is formed with a flat vertical annular rear wall 3, a fiatfront vertical annular wall P, and a surrounding peripheral cylindricalwall or rim 3, P. a

This annulus or ring is located in the tunnel between the front endthereof and the shoulder 1 and the rear end or wall of the ring isusually seated against said shoulder. The ring is normally fixed orsecured in the tunnel in any suitable manner, although I happen to showclamping screws or bolts 5, for this purpose (Fig. 5) passing throughradial holes in the tunnel wall and entering the rim-portion 3 of thethroat ring.

The rear end of the ring forms a rearwardly facing abrupt contraction,or annular stop or bafile wall within the tunnel surrounding the centralforwardly-opening contracted air blast bore or throat through the ring.-I

The interior of the rear portion of the annulus or throat ring, providesa seat for the electric resistance heating element or member, and thering-forms an annular air heating chamber a in front of said unit ormember and surrounding the flaring portion of the ring throat or bore.The ring or annulus is formed, preferably at its outer portion justwithin its rim, with an annular series of spaced longitudinal air ducts6, arranged outwardly beyond the heating unit or member, and at theirinlet or rear ends openingthrough the rear wall 3*, and at their frontor outlet ends opening into the heating chamber a. The conical orflaringwall 4 of the ring throat or bore is formed with an annularseries of spaced suction openings or air outlets 7 from the air chambera. In the-particular example shown. the throat ring or annulus iscomposed of two annular trough like sections, with their opensidesplaced together with the edges of rim walls 4", 3 meeting and the edgesof the throat walls 4, 3', meeting (Fig. 3) The two throat ring sectionscan be secured to-' gther by any suitable means or arrangements,although I show bolts 9 (Fig. 5) for this purpose. These bolts 9, are attheir rear ends confined to the rim portion 3 of the rear ring sectionand extend forwardly within the front section and through the front wall4?, with clamping nuts on their projecting front ends.

The electric resistance heating element comprising one or more annularelectric resistance units within the throat ring and surrounding thethroat therethrough and a ring 10 of porcelain or other insulating andheat resisting material carrying and holdstruction of the units.

ing the electric resistance. This porcelain ring surrounds and iscentered on the throat wall, and at its vertical rear side fits the rearwall 3 of the throat ring, and at its outer circumference is surroundedby the circle of air ducts 6. The front vertical wall of the porcelain10 is exposed to, the air chamber a, and is formed with one or moresockets or grooves 10 openv to chamber a, in which the electricresistance unit or units is or are arranged.

In the particular example illustrated, I show the vertical porcelain 10formed at its front vertical side, with two separate concentricresistance unit approximately-annular grooves or sockets 10, to receivetwo approximately annular electric resistance units or coils 11, one ineach groove. The porcelain is formed with a radial depression 10intersecting the two grooves 10, so that each groove has opposite endsopening into said depression. Binding posts 12', 12, are arranged insaid depression and secured to the porcelain and electrically connectedwith binding posts 13, extending to the exterior of the tunnel toreceive the power circuit wires 14.

In this instance, each electric resistance unit is in the form of a longelectric resistance wire coil 11, extending throughout the length of aporcelain groove 10, and confined therein by bridge pieces 10, and atone end electrically connected to one post 12 and at the other end tothe other post 12, in such manner that the circuit flowsin oppositedirections through the two electric resistance coils 11.

The electric resistance coils are arranged loosely in their grooves orsockets 10 and as the porcelain and coils are vertically arranged, thecoils when rendered soft by intense' heat tend to stretch and sagdownwardly under gravity. Such action tends to cause closing together ofconvolutions of the coils at the lowerportions'of the units, andconsequent burning out or de- I have eifectively stopped this stretchingand sagging tendency, by providing a waving or serpentine form of.gropve or socket 10, approximately as shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings.

Each coil is thus deflected from right to I left at intervals in suchmanner as to form depressions that support the coil at oppothe centralportion of the tunnel in which the fan is located, and about equal tothe diameter of the throatring rim 3 and the diameter of the circle ofair ducts 6, and consequently far in excess of the diameter of thethroat of the throat ring.

In the example illustrated the blades 15 of this blower are inclinedtransversely from their front .or advancing edges to advance the airtoward the throat ring and are curved forwardly at their rear orfollowing edges 15 (Fig. 3) to impart a rotary or whirling motion to theair while pressing the same forward in the tunnel and against theannular bafile or obstruction formed by the rear wall of the throatring.

This blower'is designed to cause the body of air in the tunnel to whirlwhile pressing forward so that the whirling body of air betweentheblower and the throat ring wall 3, is under pressure, whereby airshoots forward under pressure through the air ducts 6 and into the airchamber a, and also forwardly in a whirling body through the throat orbore of the throat ring.

The twisting or whirling body of air advancing rapidly through thethroat acts to suck or draw heated air from heating chamher a, throughthe openings 7. The elec tric resistance coils are exposed to theheatingchamber a, to' radiate heat, but-are not directly exposed to theair blast or currents in said chamber, as the air tends to rush throughsaid chamber a, from the inlets 6 to outlets'l', without contacting saidcoils.

These coils become incandescent or very highly heated and by conductionheat the porcelain ring to a high temperature, and the metal walls ofthe throat ring also become very hot by conduction. The air in chambera, is subjected to this high temperature by radiation and conduction,and also the air contacting the rear wall '3, and passing through thethroat is subjected to the high temperature of and the heat radiatedfrom such walls.

The horizontally disposed air tunnel internally equipped withelectricresistance air heating means, when combined with an air circulatingblower, serves to rapidly heat air and circulate such heated air throughthe room in which the heater is located and this circulation ismaintained by the action of the blower in constantly rawing air into therear end of the tunnel, and forcing the same through the tunnel forreheating therein and discharge therefrom. This constant circulation ofheated air causes the room temperature to quickly rise and serves tomaintain the room temperature at a comfortable degree.

One of the important advantages of my invention, results from theutilization of an air circulating blower wherein the blades are soformed (as by the forwardly curved following edges 15) as to impart awhirling, spiral or cyclonic action to the body of air in the tunnel inadvanceof the blower. The body of air is thereby driven forward with acyclonic action and resulting rotary motion in contact with the hotsurfaces of the throat ring, whereby the air takes up a maximum amountof heat as it bores forwardly in contact with the ring and through thethroat and air passages.

It will also be noted, that while the electric resistance heating unitis exposed to give off maximum heat in the air heating chamber a, yetthe arrangement of the air inlets and outlets is such that said heatingunit is protected from direct contact with the air currents.

Suitable means are provided for supporting the blower fan and itselectric motor 16 from the tunnel with the fan located at the desiredpoint within the tunnel.

For instance, I disclose a blower fan support and mounting consisting ofa major supporting ring 17 in the form of a split expanding clampadapted to be expanded within the tunnel into tight holding engagementwith the inner surface thereof, a contracting motor clamping ring 18,and supporting spokes or arms 19 fixed to or integral with said ringsand radiating and diverging from' ring 18 to ring 17 and in clinedoutwardly to inset the vertical ring 18 a distance inwardly beyond thevertical plane of the parallel ring 17.

If so desired, the parallel split rings 17, 18, and the connectinginclined spokes 19, can be composed of asingle casting.

The ring 18 is designed to surround the motor housing 16 and to betightly clamped thereon by bolt 18.

The ends of the major ring 17 tend to spring toward each other, and aring expanding bolt 17 is interposed between said ends to expand saidring within the tunnel end, if so desired, against suitable cushioningmaterial 20, interposed between the inner surface of the tunnel and theperiphery of the ring. v

The major ring '17 serves to hold the parts rigidly in thedesiredposition, while the inclined connectingspokes 19. tend to absorbvibration and reduce the noise'of the blower when in operation.

This motor supporting arrangement is simple and efiicient, andsimplifies assembly and disassembly of the blower and tunnel, and avoidsprojections at the rear of the tunnel and locates the blower within thetunnel and out of the way.

The power current wires 21 to the blower motor extend from binding post22 that extends radially through the tunnel wall to the exterior thereofto receive the power ch: cuit wires.

The electric heater, per se, embodying the Inn tunnel and parts carriedthereby, is portable, and can be located where desired, on the floor orelsewhere, to perform its enclosure heating functions, and can betransported from room to room or elsewhere about .a house or otherbuilding.

Advantages are gained by the employment of a tunnel of ceramic materialnot only because of its insulating and heat radiating characteristicsbut for other reasons, although I do not wish to so limit all featuresof my invention.

Also, the ceramic tunnel renders the heater of peculiar advantage wherecombined with an enclosing and supporting stand or other article offurniture, in accordance with, one feature of my invention. p

In Figs. 914, of the drawings, '1 show a cabinet heater of my inventionthat consists of the hereinbefore desscribed heater in=com bination witha suitable article of furniture or the like enclosing, protecting andcarry ing the heater. constitute an ornamental piece of furniture and toperform the functions of a desk,

table, telephone stand, or cabinet.

In the particular example illustrated, the cabinet embodies suitablesupporting legs 25, to which are fixed a lower horizontal heatersupporting floor or shelf .26, a horizontal desk top or shelf 27, and anintermediate shelf 28. The'space between the top 27 and intermediateshelf 28 can be enclosed by vertical'panels and one or more doors, if sodesired, to;forma compartment to receive telephone" and other books orarticles. Y 1 g The floor 26 is designed to support the heater 1, andthe spacebetween, the.- shelves 26 and 28 is enclosedto form aheater-born;

partment withvertical'walls formed" taper-w mit air circulationtherethroug'h. 'fTheisidej 7 -,W I claim walls of this last mentionedcompartment;- are formed by vertical panels 29 one or more mally fixedtherein and having a central of which can be removable. These'side.panels are usually in the form of open frames, the openings in whichare covered by fine mesh wire cloth to permit air fiow to the tunnelofthe air heater as well as heat radiation therefrom into the room. Therear end wall of the compartment is also formed by an open panel 30coveredby wire cloth for the same purpose as panels 29. The front endwall of the heater compartment is closed by an open work panel in theform of metal grille 31 arranged more or less close to the front airdischarge end of the air tunnel and this grille is formed for the freeoutward passage of the heated air blast or circulation from the tunnelwhile serving to protect the tunnel from children and preventing freeaccess thereto. In the form shown, the grille provides a greatmultiplicity of closely arranged circular and other openings. One orboth of the panels This cabinet is designed to'.

29, 30, is, or are, removable for the application and removal of theheater.

The heater is supported by its feet 2*, resting on the floor 26, and isnormally fixed in position, arranged between the panels, by any suitableclamping or securing means. For instance, I show a metal clamp ing band32, passed over the heater tunnel, intermediate its length, with theopposite ends of the band secured down on the shell ;served, the heateris not? readily accessible to children and is protected from contact andinterference. r.

'VVhen 1n action, the heater draws air in through panel 30 as well asthrough panels 29, and the hot air blast is discharged through the metalgrilleBl.

Furthermore, the open-work panels permit radiation of heat from theheater, into the room, so that all'heat is utilized, while permitting acirculation through and around the heater to keep down the exteriortemperature of the heater to the point of safety thereby avoidingpossibility of damage to adjacent woodwork.

It is. evident that various changes, modifications, and variations mightbe resorted to without. departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, and hence I do not wish to. limit myself to the exactdisclosures hereof.

1. An electric heater comprising a ceramic material air tunnel, anannulus norairpassage throat, an annular heating memher in said annulusand comprising a 00- ramrc material ring and an exposed elec- I tricresistance heating unit carried'thereb'y, said annulus forming an anheating chamber hav ng suction outlet opemngs into th'e throat and airinlet openings through the;

rear of the annulus, and an air blower for forcing air forwardly throughthe tunnel and against the rear side of the annulus.

2. An electric heater comprising." eeramic material open end air tunnel,a heat conducting and radiating throat ring in the front portion of thetunnel forming an annular air baflle in the tunnel and provided with aninternal annular electric re-. sistance heater, and a blower in thetunnel having its blades constructed and arranged to force the air.under pressure against the rear side of the ring and to cause the bodyof air to whirl and press forward against the ring and through thethroat thereof. 3. An electric heater ,embodying an open end air tunnel,a heat radiating throat ring therein forming an annular air heatingchamber and having air inlet openings from the rear of the ring andsuction air outlet openings into the throat, and a blower constructedand arranged to whirl the air in the tunnel and press the same forwardlagainst the rear of the ring and throug said throat. 4. An electricheater comprising an open end air tunnel, a blower for forcing the airforwardly through the tunnel, and a throat ring forming an annularbafile in the tunnel around the air throat through the ring, said ringforming an annular air heating chamber having air inlets from the rearof the ring and air outlets into the throat, and an annular insulatingand heat radiating member in said ring having an exposedelectrioresistance heating unit insaid chamber.

5. An electric. heater embodying an air tunnel, an annular hollow metalhe atin ring forming a baflle in the tunnel and having a central airpassage throat, said,

ring composed of annular channel sections clamped together, said ringhaving an internal heating member composed of a porcelain ring having aseat and an annular electric resistance heating coil in the seat, and

a blower for forcing air forwardly through the tunnel and against thering.

6. An electric heater embodying an air tunnel, electric resistanceheating means therein, a blower for forcing air forwardly through thetunnel, said blower provided spokes rigid with the motor clamp and withthe ring and. inclining forwardly from the ring to the motor clamp.

.7. An electric heater embodying an air tunnel and an annular heatingmember therein and comprising a vertical porcelain ring having anapproximately annular groove of a serpentine or wavy formation and anelectric heating coil arranged in saidgroove.

8. A cabinet providing a heater compartment with a heater support andvertical projecting walls formed for the passage of air, in combinationwith an air heater comprising a horizontally-arranged open-endair-heating and circulating tunnel carried by said support and providedwith an air circulating blower and internal electric resistance airheating means.

9. An electric heater comprising an -open end air heating andcirculating tunnel, an electric resistance heating means in the tunnelprotected from direct contact with the air blast, and an air circulatingblower carried by the tunnel and provided with bladesconstructed andarranged to whirl and drive the air forwardly through the tunnel with acyclonic action.

Signed at Washington, 110., this 14th day of July, 1924.

LEO SIMMONS.

